Corn-popper.



Patented 0013.14, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

C. GRETORS.

, GORN POPPER.

n APPLICATION FILED JAN. 15, 1912. l i555@ C. GRETORS.

CORN POPPER.

APPLICATION FILED 1.111,15, 1912.

Patented 001111913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

CHARLES CRETORS, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS;

CORN-POPPER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Get. 1d, 1913.-

Application ied January 15, 1912. serial No. 671,366.

To all 'whom z't may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES Camions, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook, State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Corn-Poppers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of apparatus for popping corn, in which the popped corn is discharged as fast as the same has been properly popped. And the present improvement has for its object to provide a simple and efficient construction and combina-tien of parts by which the corn as fast as popped is removed from the heatedi zone of the apparatus, and in its passage to the discharge end of the apparatus is separated from the unpopped material in a very effective and' continuous manner, all as will hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawings :-'Figure 1, is a central longitudinal section on line -m, Fig. 6, of an apparatus constructed inaccordance with the present invention. Fig. 1-a is a detail transverse section, on line @c4-m4, Fig. 1. Fig. 2, is a fragmentary longitudinal section, illustrating the open position of the discharge gate through which the residuum is discharge-d at the end of the popping operation; Fig. 3, -is an enlarged detail section on line @M -m', Fig. 1, of the concentric operating shafts of the apparatus and the clutch between the same. Fig. 4, is a rear end view of the apparatus. Fig. 5, is an enlarged detail horizontal section on line :UL-no2, Fig. 4. Fig. 6, is a det-ail transverse section on line @a3-#m3, Fig. 1.

Similar reference numerals indicate like parts in the several views.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents the hollow supporting base of the apparatus,

and 2 a burner of any ordinary ltype arranged therein, and preferably a gaseous fuel burner as shown.

3 is an annular casing secured to the' top of the base 1 and having communication therewith to receive the heated products of combustion from the burner 2, aforesaid. The casing 3, is formed at front with an inturned marginal bead or iange 4, which in conjunction with a similar flange or bead 4: on the rotary popping vessel, hereinafter described, provides an annular exit passage at the forward end of the apparatus for part of the products of combustion, and to such end said beads or flanges have a separated relation as shown in Fig. 1. At its rear end the casing 3 is formed with an inturne iange 5, opena-t its center, to provide a rear exit passage for parts of the products of combustion, and' with a view to prevent too great an escape at such point, the rotary poppingvessel or cylinder will be provided with a circular disk 6, of a greater diameter than, and arranged in adjacent relation to said exit passage.

7 is a journal bracket attached to the rear end of the apparatus andprovided at its upper endwith a fixed and forwardly extending bearing sleeve 8, the central bore, as well as the periphery, of which form bearings for the hereinafter described shafts and hubs of the popping vessel and spiral conveyer.

9 is the popping cylinder or vessel, open at its forward end and closed at its rear end by a cup shaped head 10, the central portion of which is formed by a cone shape open spider 11, which in turn is provided with a hubv or sleeve 12 that has revoluble bearing upon the periphery of the stationary bearing sleeve 8, aforesaid, to provide the requfisite support for the popping vessel 9 inthe revolution thereof.

13 is a bevel gear wheel, preferably forming a part of the spider 11, aforesaid, and having driven. engagement with the driving bevel gear wheel hereinafter described.

14 is a transversely arranged countershaft journaled in a bearing box on the journalv bracket 7 aforesaid, and carrying a bevel gear wheel 15 having driving engagement with the above described bevel gear wheel 13 of the popping vessel, and a bevel pinion 16, having driving engagement with the hereinafter described bevel gear Wheel of the spiral conveyer. parted to the countershaft 14, by hand or by power as found most desirable.

17 is a truncated cone shape casingl forming' an extension of the forward end of the cylindrical poppin vessel 9, and having open foi-ward end or the nal discharge of the popped corn. In the present construction the casing 17 is preferably formed with aseries of inwardly projecting longitudinal ribs or corrugations 17 for the purpose of Motion may be im# aiding' the conveyer` iny separating the tion saidcone will carry at its forward `end aspider hub to provide a bearing for the conveyer carrying shaft now to be described.

18 is the conveyer; carrying shaft, extendin axiall, the len h of the pop in c lin er 9 land casiiitg 17, and :pefegraldly formed by a forward shaft section 1.8 and a tubular rear shaft section 19, screwed t0- gether at their meetin ends as shown, As

so formed the yrear sha t section 19 will have cured to the forward section 18 of the conveyer shaft 18, while the rear conveyer section has a central hub 21 formed for attachmentto the rear end of the shaft section 18 and for bearing upon the forward end of the hub' or sleeve l2 of the popping vessel 9, hertofore described.

22 is arrear wing or blade extending longitudinally from the rear section of the spiral conveyer 20, and adaptedmainly to act as a stir-rer for the unpopped corn during the o eration of the apparatus.y In the preferre form of the present invention, the spiral conveyer 20 is made of apl roximately t e same diameter as the popping vessel 9 and its cone extension 17, and the margin of the conveyer is formed by a series of projecting teeth or prongs 23,- arranged in separated relation, to provide clearance s aces at the periphery ofthe separator for t e` return passage of the unpopped corn back into t e popping vessel for further treatment, while the popped corn is engaged by said teeth or prongs 23, and gradually moved to the outlet of the aforesaid casing 17. j

24 are a series of perforations formed in the spiral conveyer 20 near the outer margin of the same, and adapted to provide supplementary return passages through which `the unpopped corn can return to the popping cham er, in the continued op eration of the apparatus.

25 is a bevel gear wheel having driving engagement with the rear end vof the tubu lar rear shaft. section 19 aforesaid, preferably by means "of a transverse key '26 adapted for limited movement in longitudinal slotsrin the end of said shaft section, as shown in Figs. 1, and 2, and for the function hereinafter set forth. The bevel gear wheel 25 meshes with and is driven by the bevel pinion 16, of the countershaft 14, heretofore described, during the ordinary operation of the apparatus.

27 is a/c'lutch rod arranged in the bore ofv l the rear/shaft section 19 and having limited longitudinal movement therein. At its rear end said rod 27 is fxedly connected to the hub of the bevel gear wheel 25 by the aforesaid transverse key 26, as shown, so as lto have rotary movement and longitudinal ad'- justment in unison with said bevel gear wheel. At its forward end the rod 27 carries a lateral clutch lug 28, which when said rod is in its forward position during thepopping operation of the apparatus, is in engagement with a slit or recess in the bore of the hub 21 of the conveyer 20 and so that said hub 21 andV forward shaft section 18 are in clutch engagement with the rear shaft section 19 and bevel gear wheel 25, and pin ion 13, Vto receive rotation therefrom. When the clutch -rod 27 is moved into its rear position, the clutch lug v28 slides inthe aforesaid slit or recess of the hub 21, and has engagement at the side of an instanding lug 29 in the bore of bearing sleeve 12 of the popping cylinder 9, to attain a rotation of the spiral conveyer in the same direction as `said popping cylinder, and in an opposite direction of the normal direction of the rotation of said conveyer in the popping operation of the apparatus. Such last described connection prevails during the operation of discharging the residuum from the popping cylinder 9 after th'e popping operation is completed. ,p

The longitudinal adjustment of the clutch rod 27 and bevel gear wheel `25, -above referredfto, is attained by the following arrangement of partsl: 30 is a longitudinally moving block sliding in the bore of a housing extension of the journal bracket 7 aforesaid, and connected at one end by a yoke memberl 31 with the hub of the bevel gear wheel 25, aforesaid. At its other end said block 30, carries an arm 32 adapted for `operative engagement through a fpin and elongated slot formation 33, with vthe hinged discharge gate,hereinafter described. 34: is a manually actuated' rock shaft journaled transversely in the aforesaid .housing extension of `the journal bracket 7 and provided with a crank pin 35 having operative engagement in a lateral recess in the aforesaid block 30, so that with a partial rotation of rock shaft 34 in one direction or the other, the required longitudinal adjustment of the block 30, clutch rod 27 and bevel gear wheel 25, is attained, as well as the opening and closing of the discharge gate above referred to. 36 4is a radial pin or projection/on the rock shaft 34, and having movement in a semi-circular slot in the aforesaid housin extension of the journal bracket 7, to limit t e turning movement of the rock shaft in either direction.

37 is astationary charging hopper located at the rear end-of the apparatus and preferably carried by the journal bracket 7 as shown. The lower end of said hopper 37 is turned forward to fit the upper portion of the rear end of the cone 'shape open spider 11 before described, so that the corn as. in-

troduced into said hopper will bedirected into the interior of the popping cylinder or vessel 9. 38 is a discharge gate pivoted at its upper end to the journal bracket 7, and formed with a semi-circular free end adapted to fit an annular recess in the rear end of the aforesaid spider 11, and attain a close joint between the parts, as the said spider rotates with the popping cylinder 9 during the operation of the apparatus. The gate 38 is connected by the .aforesaid pin and elongated slot connection 33 with the movable block 30, aforesaid, and is held in a closed condition during the normal popping operation of the apparatus. lVhen, however, the bevel gear Wheel 25,l clutch rod 27 and their accessories are rearwardly adjusted to effect a rotation in one direction of the popping cylinder' 9 and spiral conveyer 20, the gate 38, through the before described connections, will be moved into an open position, so that with a continued rotation of the popping cylinder and spiral conveyer as above stated,.the stirrer blade 22, will lift the residuum in the popping cylinder to a --plane above the gate opening to ei'ect a discharge of said residuum from the apparatus.

In the present construction the popping cylinder, spiral conveyer and their immediate accessories, are arranged in a position inclined from a horizontal plane, and with the outlet end of the cone shape casing 17 at the highestv point of elevation. As so arranged the operation ofthe spiral conveyer 20 in moving the popped corn toward the outlet of the apparatus acts against the tendency of the material to return to the popping chamber by gravity, ,and such tendency to' return is materially increased by the upwardlv inclined lower side of the cone shape casing 17. In consequence a very efective separation of the popped corn from the unpopped corn, the material paratus.

In the operation of the apparatus a quantity of unpopped corn being introduced into the popping cylinder 9, through the charging hopper 37, with the apparatus in m0- tion the popping cylinder receives a fast rotation in one direction, while the spiral conveyer 20, receives a slow rotation in the reverse direction, through the intermediate driving mechanism heretofore described in detail. As a resultl the material receives a constant and eflicient stirring action, so that any liability to charring of the corn is prevented. and at the same time the popped corn as fast as formed is taken bythe conveyer and discharged from the apparatus.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent.is:

1. In an apparatus for popping corn, the

to the discharge end o-f the apis efectedduring the travel ofA combination of a revoluble popping vessel having a discharge opening at its rear end, a non-revoluble gate closing said discharge opening, a spiral convever arranged longitudinally in said popping vessel, a heater casing inclosing said vessel, a heater arranged in said casing, means for supporting v the popping vessel and conveyer in operative relation, and means for vimparting rotation to the popping vessel and conveyer.

2. In an apparatus for popping corn, the combination of a supporting frame, a revoluble popping vessel having afilling and a discharge opening at its rear end, a stationary hopper connecting with said filling opening, a non-revoluble gate carried by the supporting frame and closing said discharge opening, a spiral conveyer arranged longitudinally in said popping vessel,'a'heater casing inclosing said vessel, a heater arranged in said casing, means for supporting the popping vessel and conveyer in operative relation, and means for imparting rotation to the popping vessel and conveyer.

3. In an apparatus for popping corn, the combination of a popping vessel, a spiral conveyer arranged longitudinally in said vessel and having a series of radial prongs at its margin, a heat-er casing inclosing said vessel, a heater arranged in said casing, means for supporting the popping vessel and conveyer in operative relation, and means for imparting rotation to the popping vessel and to the conveyer.

4. In an apparatus for popping corn, the

combination of a vpopping vessel, a forward extension on said vessel of a truncated cone form and open at its forward end, a spiral conveyer arranged longitudinally in said vessel and extension and having a series of radial prongs at its margin, a heater casing inclosing said vessel, a heater arranged in said casing, means for supporting the popping vessel and conveyer in operative relation, and means for imparting rotation to the poppingl vessel and to the conveyer.

5. In an apparatus for popping corn, the combination of a popping vessel, a spiral conveyer arranged longitudinally in said vessel and having a series of radial prongs at its margin and a series of orifices in adjacent relation to said prongs, a heater casing inclosing said vessel, a heater arranged in said casing, means for supporting the popping vessel and conveyer in operative relation, and means for imparting rotation to the popping vessel and to the conveyer.

6. In an apparatus for popping corn, the combination of a popping vessel, a forward extension. on said vessel of a truncated cone form and open at its forward end, a spiral conveyer arranged longitudinally in said vessel and extension and having a series of radial prongs at its margin, and a series of orifices in adjacent` relation to said prongs,

a heater casing inclosing the popping vessel, a heater arranged in said casing, means for supporting the popping vessel and conveyer in operative` relation, and means for imparting rotation to the popping vessel and 'to the conveyer.

I 7. In an apparatusfor popping corn, the combination of a supporting frame, a revoluble popping vessel having a discharge opening at its` rear end, a non-revoluble gafte. carried by the supporting frame and closing said discharge opening, aspira] conveyer arranged longitudinally in said popping vessel, a heater casing inclosing said vessel, a heater arranged in said casing,

means for supporting the popping vessel and conveyer in operative relation, and means for imparting rotation to the popping vessel and conveyer, the same comprising a countershaft having individual driv-v ing bevel gear connections with the popping vessel and with the conveyer, and av clutch mechanism adapted to release the driving connection of the conveyer with the countershaft and engage the conveyer with the popping vessel.

8. In an apparatus for popping corn, the combination of a supporting frame, a revoluble popping vessel having a filling and a discharge opening at its rear end, a stationary hopper connecting with said lilling opening, a non-revoluble gate carried by the supporting frame and closing said discharge opening, a spiral conveyer arranged longitudinally `in lsaid popping viessel, a heater casing inclosing said vessel, a heater arranged in said casing, means for supporting the popping vessel and conveyer in operative relation, and means for imparting rotation to the Apopping vessel and con! veyer, the same comprising `a countershaft having individual driving bevel gear connections with the popping 'vessel and with Vthe conveyer, and al clutch mechanism adapted to release the driving connection of the eonveyer withthe countershaft and engage the conveyer with the popping vesse 9. ln an apparatus for popping corn, the

combination of av popping vessel, a forward extension f on said vessel of a truncated cone form, open at its forward end and formed with a series of longitudinal corrugations, a spiral conveyer arranged longitudinally in said vessel and extension, a

:heater casing inclosing said vessel, a-heater a spiral conveyer arranged longitudinally in said vessel and extension, and having a yseries of radial prongs at its margin, a

heater casing inclosing said vessel, a heater arranged in said casing, means for supporting the popping vessel .and conveyer in operative relation, and means for imparting rotation to. the popping vessel and conveyer. y

11. In an apparatus for popping corn, the combination of a popping vessel, a forward extension on said vessel of a truncated cone form, open at its forward end and formed with a series of longitudinal corrugations, a spiral conveyer. arranged longitudinally in said vessel and extension andhaving a series of radial prongs at its margin and a series of orifices in adjacent relation to said prongs, a heater casing inclosing said vessel, a heater arranged in said casing, means for supporting the popping yvessel and conveyer in operative relation, and means for imparting rotation to theI popping vessel and conveyer.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 12th day of January, 1912.

Y p CHARLES cnnrons.

Witnesses:

ROBERT BURNS, HENRY Mon. 

